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October 2013

October 17

Youth reunite for Singspiration

October 17, 2013

Markham, Ont. - Cynthia Yeh has always felt called to music and to prayer. In Singspiration, she combines both to feel even closer to God. “You get that feeling when you just know that He is with you,” said Yeh, 17.

Church, business and political leaders pack annual Cardinal's Dinner

October 17, 2013

Toronto - The Church is both a global reality and local entity that works best when the two dimensions operate in an inseparable unison, Cardinal Thomas Collins told a packed audience Oct. 17 at the 34th annual Cardinal's Dinner.

October 18

The truth about being twenty-somethings

October 18, 2013

I’d like to chat with my fellow twenty-somethings. In a culture that idolizes youth, the prime years of our twenties are what many people talk about. No one will deny the adventure, the chaos and the inherent doubt that follows us throughout this decade. It’s tough, and apparently it's even tougher now than it was during the Great Depression. Our generation is the most stressed and anxious to date, and that’s a fact, says a new USA Today study on the Millennial Generation.

The humble will be welcomed by God

October 18, 2013

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct. 29 (Sirach 35:15-17, 20-2; Psalm 34; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14) Life is not fair and the world is not a just place — or so it appears. We can think of countless cases of people appearing to slither, bob and weave through the justice system by means of sharp lawyers and legal contortions. Money and power is often the leverage that tips the scales in their favour. Often religious language is the icing on this disheartening cake. Small wonder that cynicism and disillusionment have taken up residence in so many hearts and minds.

Christian persecution around world has intensified, study finds

October 18, 2013

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) - The persecution of Christians around the world has intensified over the last two-and-a-half years, according to a review of religious freedom in 30 countries.

A brother to be thankful for

October 18, 2013

The excitement of hearing about your mother’s pregnancy seems unreal when you are a child. For my younger brother Matthew, he was especially delighted to hear that he was finally going to be a big brother.

D&P directs $5.4 million to Syrian refugees

October 18, 2013

The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace is directing $5.4 million of Canadian government funding to Syrian refugees who are living outside official refugee camps.

Keeping with tradition, Colbert lobs good-natured barbs at Smith dinner

October 18, 2013

NEW YORK (CNS) - Laughingly describing himself as America's most famous Catholic who as an 11-year-old altar boy who put in his time "with the uppin' and the downin', the crissin' and the crossin'," Stephen Colbert headlined the 68th annual dinner of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation held Oct. 17 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

October 19

Sabeel founder adamant in anti-Zionism

October 19, 2013

TORONTO - To most Israelis and most of the world’s Jews, Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek wields a theological cudgel that threatens their very existence.

Celluloid heaven: how popes took church, Gospel to the big screen

October 19, 2013

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When Pope Benedict XVI joined Twitter in 2012 and Pope Francis appeared on Instagram the following year, media watchers may have thought they were witnessing a Vatican revolution. In both cases, however, the pontiffs were merely following in a long tradition.

October 20

Pope raises hopes of remarried Catholics

October 20, 2013

Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage according to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, but not according to canon law. Which may come as a surprise to some people.

Treating spiritual side key to battle with depression

October 20, 2013

TORONTO - Rather than simply treating the physical ailments associated with depression, doctors must view patients as interconnected spiritual and physical beings, believes Dr. Kenneth Fung.

October 21

Papal primacy key to Eastern, Western Church unity

October 21, 2013

TORONTO - The only route to reuniting Eastern and Western Christianity is to strengthen the primacy of the pope, according to Orthodox theologians. And in Pope Francis they detect signs that a window to unity may be opening.

Parish refugee workshop offered Oct. 26

October 21, 2013

Toronto - The Office for Refugees Archdiocese of Toronto is hosting its next refugee settlement workshop Oct. 26 for parishes with an interest in helping relocate people fleeing some of the world’s most troubled areas.

Ladies and gentlemen: seeking love and respect

October 21, 2013

Men and women are searching for love and respect. So why is it that we demand it from each other, but often fail to demonstrate it ourselves? In the wake of Miley Cyrus’ display at the MMVA’s, which re-sparked conversations regarding rape and societal perceptions of worth based on sexual availability, we end up with what, in a Verily magazine article, Monica Gabriel calls “Foam Finger Pointing” — playing the blame game.

Pope meets German bishop at center of spending controversy

October 21, 2013

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - After giving a morning Mass homily on the virtue of poverty, Pope Francis held a private meeting Oct. 21 with a German bishop under fire for a massive building project that critics have denounced as extravagant.

Pope says Catholics, Lutherans must ask pardon for harming one another

October 21, 2013

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - As the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation approaches, "Catholics and Lutherans can ask forgiveness for the harm they have caused one another and for their offenses committed in the sight of God," Pope Francis said.

October 22

Discovering the real John Paul I

October 22, 2013

VATICAN CITY - “May God forgive you for what you have done,” the newly elected pope told the cardinals who elevated him to the highest office in the Catholic Church. Later, he recounted the critical moments of voting in the Sistine Chapel: “As soon as the danger for me had begun, the two colleagues who were beside me whispered words of encouragement.”

Vatican official reaffirms teaching on divorced, remarried Catholics

October 22, 2013

VATICAN CITY - Amid rising expectations that the Catholic Church might make it easier for divorced and remarried members to receive Communion, the Vatican's highest doctrinal official reaffirmed Church teaching barring such persons from the sacrament without an annulment of their first, sacramental marriage.

October 23

Our natural hunger

October 23, 2013

A few years ago, I picked up a book called The Diet Alternative. Diane Hampton tells of how she found herself overweight and not knowing how she’d gotten there. She finally came to understand the problem after an eating binge and purge, when she realized she didn’t know how to stop. In her recovery through prayer and fasting, she pinpointed the real source or her problem: losing her hunger.